Recap: Blue Jackets 4, Panthers 1

BLUE JACKETS 4, PANTHERS 1: Defenseman Nikita Nikitin notched his first career two-goal game and R.J. Umberger added a pair of goals as host Columbus stalled Florida's drive for a division title.

Allen York, an emergency recall earlier in the week, turned aside 30 shots to earn his second straight win - and second of his career - as the Blue Jackets beat the Panthers for the fifth consecutive time.

Umberger gave Columbus the early lead and capped off the scoring with an empty-netter for his sixth goal in five games to drop Southeast Division leader Florida to its fifth loss in six contests (1-2-3).

The Panthers hold a four-point edge over the Washington Capitals with four games to play, but have staggered down the stretch and failed to beat four teams already eliminated from postseason contention.

Columbus broke on top less than four minutes into the game when Umberger finished a 2-on-1 to beat Jose Theodore.

The Blue Jackets extended the lead on Nikitin's first goal, a wrister from the point on the power play with just over eight minutes remaining in the second period.

Nikitin struck again with a wrister at 3:01 of the third period for a commanding 3-0 edge before Tomas Kopecky got Florida on the board at the eight-minute mark to end York's shutout bid.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Columbus had converted only 2 of 52 chances on the power play before Nikitin's first tally. It was Nikitin's third power-play goal of the season and sixth overall. ... Florida's last four losses prior to Friday came against Carolina, Edmonton, the New York Islanders and Minnesota. None of those teams will make the playoffs. ... Panthers D Brian Campbell tied his career high of 52 points with an assist on Kopecky's goal.